Names That Mean House

Unlike other place names, this one might be tied too tightly to a single locale -- the Maryland suburb of D. C. -- to work as a first name.

Mason with a French accent. Some parents may pick this spelling as an attempt to feminize or distinguish from trendy Mason.

Georgian variant of Katayun, sometimes used as a Georgian form of Katherine. Diminutives include Keti, Keto and Ketino. This is the birth name of British-Georgian musician Katie Melua.

A word that carries a broad range of connotations across Europe, all of which ultimately derive from the Roman term for a country estate. Villa is well established as a surname, especially in Spanish-speaking countries, and has also occasionally been used as a first name for girls.

With place names extending their range, this is an unmapped possibility, though a bit stiff. Baltimore, Maryland was named after Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Baron Baltimore. Baltimore is ultimately derived from the Irish Baile an Tí Mhóir, meaning "town of the big house."

An ancient city in Assyria, where Jonah was sent to spread the word of God. Also spelt Nineveh.

Katayun derives from the Persian elements kata "house, city" and bânu "wife". In Iranian mythology, Katay(o)un is the wife of Goshtāsb and the mother of Esfandiār.

The final s turns this name into a manservant.

Bethenny is the spelling introduced to the world by and closely associated with Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel. While the name has a bit of charm, we recommend sticking with the original Bethany spelling.

A German occupational surname deriving from the German word Bad, meaning "bath". Its most famous bearer in recent years has been (the notorious) RBG – former Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, making this a great feminist name or a nod to a lawyer in the family. Its simple, dynamic, er-ending sound fits right in with the likes of Harper, Piper and Saylor.